freemasonry and grimoires

Introduction

To all mortals Death is the final
destination and so a force that
represents the inevitable and the
mysterious. In modern western culture,
Death is viewed as a terrifying force,
its personification an aloof and
frightening figure waiting to cut down
the living and harvest their souls. But
not all cultures view death in such dark
ways; in Latin American culture Death
has grown to become a beloved figure
that is not shunned out of fear, but
embraced out of love. She is Santisima
Muerte.

Santisima Muerte, or Holy Death,
is a controversial figure that has grown
in prominence over the years. Her
history is often quite obscure and the
legends around her myriad, but today
her cult continues to grow in
exponential numbers as she has
become a beloved folk saint. Shunned
by the Catholic Church, her devotees
remain loyal to her as she has
transformed not only into the miracle
saint par excellence, but has also
become a symbol of national pride and
racial identity. Today, altars to her can
be found in cities all around Mexico
and she has started to take residence in
neighboring countries, like the United

States. Thanks to the internet, interest
in her has gone global and people from
different cultural backgrounds find
themselves drawn to this figure of
beloved Holy Death.

While death is universal,
Santisima Muerte is a purely Mexican,
folk-Catholic phenomenon and should
be respected as such. Attempts to
syncretize her with neo-pagan deities
or to remove her from her cultural
roots would be disrespectful both to her
and her devotees. But if approached
with respect for her cultural
background, she then takes on the
mantle of a universal force, for truly
death comes to all.

This text is written for the sole
purpose of enlightening those
interested in Santisima Muerte. Her
history and various legends will be
discussed, but the aim is to provide
practical steps on how to establish a
relationship with this powerful spirit
and how to properly work with her.
Included in this booklet shall be
traditional novenas, prayers, and
orisons all translated from Spanish. All
translations are my own.

The History and
Legend of
Santisima Muerte

There are a variety of legends
surrounding Santisima Muerte and
some anthropologists and historians of
religion have tried to distinguish the
history from the myth. However,
Santisima Muerte’s origins still remain
mostly shrouded in obscurity.

Some legends claim that
Santisima Muerte is the shadow or

darker aspect of the Virgin Mary.
Indeed many depictions of Santisima
Muerte are that of the Virgin of
Guadalupe in a prayerful pose, but
skeletal in form. Some devotees refer
to her as the sister of the Virgin and it
is not uncommon for people to
venerate these two side-by-side. Both
represent powerful female forces and
have taken on motherly roles. The
faithful of Santisima Muerte
sometimes call her their “godmother”
and their love of her seems to rival the
love they have for the Virgin Mary—a
testament to how large her cult is
growing and to the role of mother that
these two powerful saints fulfill.

Another legend indicates that she
was a nun who lived at one time,
suffered heartbreak as a result of being
betrayed by her secret lover, and
eventually died or committed suicide.
When her skeletal remains were found
she performed miracles and from there
became Santisima Muerte. This legend
is more in line with the stories
revolving around La Llorona and the
Intranquil Spirit. In function, all three
entities are called upon to deal with
wayward lovers, and so it is likely that
this legend may be a result of contact
with practitioners familiar with these
other entities.

Different people will recount

different legends about her, but the
most common perspective of Santisima
Muerte is that she is the Angel of
Death. In this way, while she is
referred to as a saint, she actually ranks
among the archangels which would
also explain her relationship with Saint
Michael. In this view, she is the Angel
of Death who comes to all and so is the
most just of all the celestial figures.
Since all are subject to death, her
power is seen as second only to God.

Given the large number of legends
surrounding her, the origin of each is
difficult to trace. However, what is
known is that the first depictions of
Santisima Muerte seem to have

originated from southern Mexico and
to this day most of the suppliers of her
cult images found in Mexico City come
from the south. There may be some
link between Santisima Muerte and the
Aztec goddess of death and the
underworld, Mictecacihuatl. There are
some who even indicate that a single
continuous cult of death has continued
since Aztec times till modern time with
the death goddess becoming Santisima
Muerte. Historically, there is no clear
evidence of a continuous cult of death,
but the link in legend is certainly there.
There is even a movement by modern
Mexican American neo-pagans to
reclaim Santisima Muerte from the
folk Catholic cult that has grown

around her and re-establish her as a
pagan goddess.

While there are records of skeletal
figures as early at the 19th Century, it
wasn’t until the 20th Century that
records of Santisima Muerte as both
protector and love saint are found. It
should be noted that even if a
continuous cult of death cannot be
historically verified, Mesoamerican
culture retained its connection to
figures of death even after conversion
to Catholicism as seen in the
celebration of the Day of the Dead and
in the figure of El Rey San Pascual.
The earliest records of Santisima
Muerte veneration seem to revolve

around prisons or those facing death.
She was often depicted as a skeletal
bride or skeleton in a black robe. She
was petitioned for a “good death”
among those who worked in dangerous
professions or for release from
imprisonment. It is likely from this
historical root that she became
associated with drug-dealers and
cartels. Interestingly, just as she
became the patron of prisoners, so too
did she become the patron of prison
guards and today she is still petitioned
by drug-traffickers and the police who
fight them. This reputation as patron of
both-sides was highlighted in the
recent drug and gang wars of Mexico
where devotees on either side of the

line called upon her for protection from
death. Those who faced danger called
upon her to protect them, but shortly
thereafter the wives these men left at
home also adopted her but for a
different purpose: to bring their men
back home. When their men went out
in the dark and dangerous world with
wives at home, the wives turned to
Holy Death to bring back their
husbands and to keep them faithful. It
is from this that Santisima Muerte’s
traditional role as protector of those
facing danger, and the saint called upon
to bring men home, was formed.

The veneration of Holy Death
among individuals facing dangerous

jobs either by working for the law or
against it, along with her veneration by
their wives, seems to be the earliest
records of her. She may however have
existed in some form or another before
the 20th Century privately. Her
popularity grew in the mid-20th
Century as she took on new roles as
healer, granter of justice, provider, and
much more. While her cult may have
become somewhat public during this
time, the majority of her devotion
remained private. She may
traditionally have been petitioned for a
good death or protection from death,
but she has grown since then. Indeed,
she seems to have consolidated the
powers of other saints.

In Santisima Muerte, there is a
meeting and consolidating of saintly
powers. Traditionally, curanderas
(practitioners of curanderismo or Latin
American Catholic folk magic) called
upon a host of saints for a variety of
conditions: Santa Elena and Santa
Marta were the love saints par
excellence, Saint Martin Caballero was
the saint of money and business, San
Miguel was the great protector and
provider of justice, and the Virgin of
Guadalupe was called upon to
intervene when a miracle was needed.
As the cult of Santisima Muerte has
grown, she seems to have subsumed the
function of these other saints. She is

now called upon for love, money,
protection, justice, healing, and to
perform miracles. Her reputation as
“performer saint,” or saint that is able
to grant petitions and prayers
effectively, has become legendary and
there are now curanderas who are
relying on Santisima Muerte alone
rather than a host of other saints.

It is in the last 20 years that the
cult of Santisima Muerte has exploded
into the public scene. Her cult numbers
are growing each day and her devotees
publicly honor her with feasts, vigils,
and pilgrimages to holy shrines. She
has also entered into the popular
awareness through her connections

with drug-traffickers and it is through
this lens that she was introduced to
people of the United States in a large
scale. Given her rejection by the
Catholic Church she’s taken on the role
as the patron of the marginalized, so
she’s become protector of those in
illicit professions, the poor,
homosexuals, transsexuals, women,
and other people that may be
marginalized by society. Her role as
provider of solace for those who feel
marginalized or persecuted by society
gives hers a unique position; while she
has started out on the outskirts, as the
movements pushing for recognition
and equality for those she protects
grows she is carried along with the

movement and makes the transition
from marginalized saint to a saint in
the spotlight.

Though she’s been maligned by
the Catholic Church and by the media
both, her devotees continue to strive to
bring awareness to the richness of her
cult and to the powerful majesty of this
wonderful saint. Despite the attempts
to malign her, her cult continues to
grow and while her history may not
always be clear there is no denying she
is a powerful spirit and force. To those
who do not know her, she’s
unfathomable death, but to her
devotees she is a familiar member of
their family.

The Symbols of
Santisima Muerte

Like all saints and folk saints,
Santisima Muerte has become
associated with a set of symbols,
colors, and numbers. Much of her
current images and symbols are a result
of the influence of spiritual suppliers; a
phenomenon noted by famed folklorist,
Catherine yronwode, who has examined
how the image of Santisima Muerte has
changed over the past 10-20 years or
so. The oldest images of Santisima
Muerte were often in a resin color, or

skeletal figures dressed as brides or in
the vestments of the Virgin, however
now people refer to the grim reaper
image as traditional. In fact, it was
Catherine yronwode who noted that
even the skeletal structure was an
influence of the spiritual supply shops
as modern “grim reaper” Santisima
Muerte statues actually have a male
skeletal structure though they are
called female. The adoption of the grim
reaper-like Santisima Muerte has
resulted in a plethora of traditions on
the symbols she’s depicted with like
the scythe, owl, etc. Though a
relatively modern adoption into the
cult, they have nevertheless been
widely accepted by her followers and

devotees.

The same can be said about her
traditional colors. While now spiritual
suppliers are making Santisima Muerte
statues in a variety of colors from
purples, greens, to elaborate rainbow-
colored ones or ones wearing a gown of
money, most curanderas will refer to
the red, black, and white Santisima
Muerte as the most traditional of her
colors. Again this is likely a result of
the past 20 years or so since the oldest
depictions often were of skeletons that
were dressed in a variety of bride
gowns or in the robes of the Virgin. It
is quite traditional that as an offering a
person would get Santisima Muerte a

specially tailored dress and in the
southern parts of Mexico there are
family tailors who specifically make
dresses for Santisima Muerte.

While these symbols, colors, and
images have become associated with
Santisima Muerte through the
influence of spiritual supply shops,
where they first make an appearance,
their acceptance into her following
shows the dynamic and living quality
of her cult, which is not a static thing,
but a force that grows to meet the
needs of the faithful and adapts with
the times. Accepting this, the symbols,
colors, and numbers presented here
will reflect the opinion of the older

workers and curanderas.

Santisima Muerte’s colors are red,
white, and black with each representing
a different aspect of the saint and
containing spells unique to each color.
Most altars to her will house three
statues in red, white, or black, or will
involving shifting the different statues
in different positions depending on
which Santisima Muerte is being
worked with. It is also common to have
a single skeletal Santisima Muerte and
dressing her according to which color
is being invoked. The red Santisima
Muerte is called upon for matters of
love, desire, passion, and to provide
material things. The white Santisima

Muerte is called upon for healing,
protection, exorcisms, and blessings.
The black Santisima Muerte is called
upon for aggressive protection, to turn
back evil, and to punish enemies.

Another relatively new type of
statue that has appeared is the amber
statues filled with different herbs,
seeds, grains, and charms. These more
than likely come from Cuban influence
and are descended from the West
African magical practices. They are
quite popular among spiritual supply
shops who often claim that only statues
loaded with the right magical
combinations are truly effective. While
certainly interesting, this is not the

case. In reality any image of Santisima
Muerte will be accepted by her with
her three aspects as black, red, and
white being the most preferable.

Her symbols include the scythe,
scales, globe, owl, and hourglass. Many
of her images or statues will have any
combination of these symbols. There
are also some statues with removable
scythes which can be used in specific
types of magical works. For example
one may wrap the photo of an enemy
around the scythe and place it back in
her hands so that the enemy is given
over to her, or one may place the
scythe over a photo of a troublesome
person to pin them down and keep

them from meddling. There are other
statues where the entire hand of
Santisima Muerte is removable. This
comes from the tradition of agitating a
saint in order to get them to work faster
for you. It is in line with placing a
statue of a saint upside down, as done
with Saint Joseph to get him to help
you sell property. There are Saint
Anthony statues where the baby Jesus
is removable and one promises to
return the baby back into his arms
when the lost lover or object is
returned. In the case of Santisima
Muerte statues that have a removable
hand, the promise is to return her hand
when she carries out the work. I have
found such an approach to be not only

unnecessary, but that it may cultivate
the hostility of the spirit. I find it better
to cultivate a relationship of respect
and faith, which encourages the saint or
spirit far more readily than agitation.

Santisima Muerte is associated
with the number 7 and the number 9. It
is quite common for people to give her
offerings that reflect those numbers. In
addition to these symbols she also
holds the Aloe Vera plant as sacred and
it should be included in any altars that
are devoted to her. In traditional
curanderismo practices, no altar to
Santisima Muerte would be complete
without the Aloe Vera plant and there
are several specific magical practices

and spells that involve working with
the plant directly. The placement of the
plant holds unique significance. It is
hung upside down from its roots to
either side of the altar. When placed on
the left it wards off evil spirits whereas
if placed on the right it attracts good
spirits. Before doing a magical work
with Santisima Muerte, moving the
Aloe Vera plant is necessary; moving it
to the left for darker works and moving
it to the right for positive works.

Feast Day

Santisima Muerte is venerated on
Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the
Dead that is usually celebrated on
November 1st and 2nd. It is interesting
that Dia de los Muertos may have
sprung from Aztec celebrations for
Mictecacihuatl, again highlighting a
link between the two. On this day you
could decorate her altar with
“ofrendas” or offerings of sugar skulls,
sweet breads made in the form of
skulls, candles, perfume, tequila, roses,
candy, as well as orange Mexican
marigold flowers. This flower is

believed to be sacred to death in
Mexican culture and is placed on
graves on this day as offerings, for it
gives the dead sustenance and allows
them to enter our world.

Since Holy Death teaches us the
respect of the afterlife, her holy days
should be honored by a celebration of
death and life. It is a good time to visit
loved ones who have passed, to
decorate their graves, leave out
offerings, and recall their deeds in life.
Gather with family and remember
those who have passed away, for so
long as they are remembered, they are
still alive.

Setting Up an Altar
to Santisima Muerte

Any surface can be made into an
altar of Santisima Muerte though many
practitioners indicate she prefers to
have her own space rather than share
with other spirits, or saints. Her altar
should include her image, preferably
with all her three traditional colors
represented, a small clay pot with 7
coins, filled with water, and 6 yellow
or white flowers, a rosary, a cup of
fresh water, and an Aloe plant hanging
upside down to the left of the altar,

roots and all. The Aloe plant is sacred
to Santisima Muerte and the position
that it is hung pertains to various
spiritual works. Leaving the Aloe plant
to the left of the altar is a protective act
and keeps you safe from evil spirits,
placing it to the right will draw helpful
spirits. Before any trabajos, or works,
with Santisima Muerte you must move
the Aloe plant to either side. This is the
bare minimum of an altar for her,
though the more you build it up the
better connection you can form with
her. Other elements could include
fruits like apples and oranges,
cigarettes, rum and tequila, tortillas,
fresh red or white flowers, and
cinnamon candies.

Once a week water, alcohol,
flowers, and foods should be replaced
and these can also act as offerings
given to her along with candles.

To consecrate the altar to her you
can perform a simple rite like the
following:

Materials:

Florida Water or Siete Machos
perfume

Copal resin

Charcoal and something to burn it
in

White candle

White flowers

White table cloth

Rosary

Cleanse and wash the surface with
Florida Water or Siete Machos
perfume. If it is a wood surface be
careful not to damage it with the
alcohol-based cologne. After you’ve
cleansed the surface, cover it with your
white table cloth and light your
charcoal. Sprinkle the Copal on the
burning charcoal and let the smoke
waft up.

Move around the table with the
smoke, making circles around it, either
by walking around it or by circling it
with your hand. This is quite easy if

you have a thurible or censor. As you
let the smoke consecrate the altar, pray
a short prayer like the following:

Holy Death, dear to my heart,
do not abandon me
Protect me, stand by me, and
walk with me.

Beloved Santisima Muerte
bless this place as your holy
site.

Make sure that the smoke touches
the table, the statues, Aloe plant, and
all other parts of the altar. Repeat the
prayer three times, then wipe the table
gently with the white roses and place
them on the altar. Light your candle

and let it burn down. Anoint the statue
or image of Santisima Muerte with
Siete Machos perfume and anoint her
rosary while praying the orison above.
Dangle the rosary from her hand, or
wrap it around the image. This process
minus the cleansing with the perfume
can be repeated over nine days for a
stronger effect.

Your altar is now consecrated and
can be built accordingly. Include
images, objects, and symbols devoted
to her on your altar. Decorate as
necessary; make sure any fruit,
flowers, and water are fresh. Some
people insist that you only use holy
water, but fresh spring water will also

work well. The more love and attention
you put into it, the more you’ll be able
to cultivate her presence on your altar.
Each element included on the altar
brings her presence just a little closer.

Working with
Santisima Muerte

Working with Santisima Muerte
follows a traditional format with
certain elements that are unique to her,
while others are familiar to anyone
who has worked with saints in a folk-
magical manner. There are three
elements that are essential to working
any trabajo or spell with Santisima
Muerte: the amparo, the tributa, and
the ex voto.

The Amparo

Before working with Santisima
Muerte it is important to discuss the
essential element of the amparo. This
is a protective pact made with a
guardian saint to help mediate and
ameliorate the influence of Holy Death.
In traditional Mexican folk magic, the
belief is that whenever one is doing a
spell, a protective rite is needed to
ensure that the spell cannot be
reversed. This is also essential in
cleansing others, to ensure that what
you cleanse off does not enter you.
When working with Santisima Muerte,
the amparo acts as both protection and
to temper her influence. Being the
force of death embodied, she can be

overwhelming and so the amparo not
only offers protection from death, but
allows you to work with her without
being overwhelmed. The term amparo
refers to a legal term and in working
with Santisima Muerte it allows one to
work with spiritual forces without
allowing them to impact the petitioner.

Traditionally people who work
with Santisima Muerte invoke the
power of either Saint Michael or Saint
Cyprian to make amparos as these are
the two saints believed to have the
power to temper her influence. To
make an amparo place your photo in
between images of either saint with
their faces outwards and light a votive

or vigil candle on it; for Saint Michael
a white or red candle is appropriate,
and purple or white for Saint Cyprian.
Recite their orison and ensure that the
light remains on while you work with
Santisima Muerte. This is especially
important when you first start working
with Santisima Muerte and when doing
heavier or darker work. Without this
level of protection you may find
yourself overwhelmed by her and her
influence.

Orison for Saint Cyprian:

Saint Cyprian, grant me your
protection and liberate me
from all danger.

I ask you to unbind all curses,

hexes, and bewitchments.
Rescue me from the rabid
wolf and guard me from all
evil.

I ask this in the name of
Jesus Christ. Amen.
Orison for Saint Michael:
Saint Michael the Archangel,
Defend us in battle.

Be our protection against the
wickedness and snares of the
devil.

May God rebuke him, we
humble pray;

And do Thou, O Prince of the
Heavenly Host—

By the Divine Power of God
Cast into hell, Satan and all

the evil spirits,

Who roam throughout the
world seeking the ruin of
souls.

Amen.

The amparo is always the first
step in any major working with
Santisima Muerte. Over time as your
relationship with her develops, the
amparo can be reserved for heavier
works. Small prayers and petitions can
be presented to her without an amparo
as you develop more of a feel for her
and her presence becomes more
temperate. You can also tie the picture
packet together to create a permanent
amparo and occasionally light candles

on it when needing extra protection.

There are some accounts from
practitioners that indicate that Saint
Cyprian must be kept on a separate
altar from Santisima Muerte as their
powers tend to clash and conflict. I
have not experienced this, but I do keep
the altars of Santisima Muerte and
Saint Cyprian separate.

Tributa

For any large working with
Santisima Muerte a tributa is needed,
which calls upon the powers of
Santisima Muerte while also ensuring
the protection of the person calling

upon those powers. The tributa is
necessary especially when first starting
to work with Santisima Muerte. This is
done by taking an unglazed clay pot
and filling it with fresh water, putting
in seven coins and six white flowers.
You then take this to a cemetery and
leave it at the gate and speaking from
the heart tell Santisima Muerte this gift
is for her and ask her to work for you.
Walk away without looking back.

The tributa opens the gates to
Santisima Muerte to work on your
behalf, but keeps you safe from other
spirits that may be attracted to you
from your work. The number of coins
varies from practitioner to practitioner;

some say three and others seven. In
either case, the coins are offerings to
the spirits of the cemetery and the six
flowers represent the six good spirits of
the days of the week invoked for
protection, with the seventh being
Santisima Muerte herself. The tributa
can also be used as a form of
appeasement if you discover that
someone has sent Santisima Muerte
against you, or you have offended her.
By putting in place an amparo and then
performing the tributa, you can gain
her protection and turn back her hand.

Over time as you cultivate a
relationship with Santisima Muerte, the
tributa can be made and kept on the

altar rather than taken to the cemetery.
However, at the beginning it is
essential to carry it to the cemetery and
leave it as an offering. Those
individuals who have worked with
Santisima Muerte for a while often
make this tributa, but only carry it out
to the cemetery during larger works,
but not necessarily for smaller
devotional works.

The use of the tributa opens up the
gates and brings in the power of
Santisima Muerte strong and fast. As
that power is cultivated on her altar,
the tributa can be left there.

Ex Voto

The ex voto is an offering made to
Santisima Muerte or any saint for
favors granted. Folklorist E. Bryant
Holman calls this the “manda.” When
working with Santisima Muerte, one
promises to give her offerings in return
for the “trabajo” or work she does for
you. The ex voto then is an offering
given in fulfillment of a vow. These
take a variety of forms, but the most
common is giving her nine candles;
three red, three white, and three black.
There are other variations of candle
offerings from twelve; four of each
color, or twenty-one; seven of each
color. She is also given offerings of
apples, cigarettes, tequila, rum.

flowers, spicy candies, as well as
giving her more customized gifts like
buying her a new dress for her statues,
or making a pilgrimage to one of her
shrines. Those that make these
pilgrimages usually make it by foot,
carrying her statue with the last few
steps being done on their knees.

A common ex voto found in Latin
American folk-magic tradition that is
traceable to the Iberian Peninsula and
the practices of the Spanish and
Portuguese is the milagro charm. These
charms take a variety of shapes and
usually are reflective of the petition
that has been granted, or the miracle
provided. For example, if Santisima

Muerte were to help you in your arm
surgery, a milagro of an arm would be
obtained and given to her. The milagro
charm can be taken to one of her
shrines, placed on a home altar, or even
sewn into the altar cloth or her gown. It
is quite common to find public altars
for her at botanicas where people have
sewn milagro charms on her gown.
Milagro charms are made in a variety
of shapes, sizes, and forms for any
petition that one may take to a saint.
These charms can also be used as
talismanic objects carried on the
person while petitioning Santisima
Muerte.

It is essential to keep your vows to

Santisima Muerte as she can be one of
the more demanding saints. When she
comes through for you, be prompt in
completing the ex voto whether it is
giving her candles, a milagro, flowers,
or something more customized, but do
be sure to follow through. Delays in
giving her what is owed to her or
failure to give her the offerings
promised may lead to her taking back
what she gave to you in the first place.

The Trabajos of
Santisima Muerte

Santisima Muerte has a complete
system of magic all to her own. As her
popularity has grown, the sphere of
things she can be called upon for has
grown as well. Where once a
practitioner would call upon different
saints for each situation they faced,
now it is common to find Santisima
Muerte called upon for all of it and so
her workings have come to be regarded
as a complete magical system.

Typically there are two ways of
working with Santisima Muerte,
through her novena or through a spell,
which are commonly known as trabajos
or works. In either case, it is important
to ensure that the amparo and tributa
are performed and an ex voto is
offered. Finally, make sure to move her
sacred Aloe plant according to your
intentions: left if you are doing harsher
works and right if you are doing works
of love and drawing.

Novena of
Santisima Muerte

The novena to Santisima Muerte
is the most traditional way of working
with her and its form is very similar to
novenas done on behalf of other saints.
A novena is a religious act performed
over nine days that involves prayer and
usually includes the lighting of a vigil
candle. One vows to pray the novena
for nine days in return for the
intervention of the saint that is being
petitioned.

Santisima Muerte’s novena starts
on a Sunday at midnight though
occasionally some will begin her
novena on a Tuesday. It should be done
at her altar, or at least before her
printed image and requires a red
novena candle which you will burn for
nine days. This can be nine separate
votive candles that are burned down
each day, or it can be a glass encased
candle left on for the entire nine days.
The latter is preferred by most
practitioners, but it should be noted
that most glass-encased vigil candles
which are advertised as lasting seven
days often burn down in five so this
should be taken into consideration.
Another method that has been adopted

into her cult from Cuba and the
Caribbean is the use of lamps, both
kerosene and homemade. These too
would be left lit for the entirety of the
nine days like the vigil candle.

In addition to the candle and
image, a glass of fresh water is needed,
and a piece of paper upon which you
have written your request. Her novena
is most commonly used to return a
wayward lover, but can be adapted for
any situation that requires the
intervention of Santisima Muerte. If
done to return a lover, a photo of the
individual should be placed under the
cup of water. To begin the novena
make sure you have your amparo in

place then light your candle and write
your petition and place it beneath the
candle. Ensure that the candle and
water are both before the image of
Santisima Muerte. Begin each day of
prayers with the Jaculatoria prayer.
This is a prayer that is to be memorized
and repeated each day. It is a common
practice to recite the Jaculatoria
throughout the day and this often can
be a source of solace and comfort
during times of trouble. When you are
out and about, taking a moment to
recite the Jaculatoria continues the
power of the novena while attuning you
to the spiritual current of the work.

The Jaculatoria prayer that should

be recited before each day of the
novena for Santisima Muerte is:

Beloved Death, dear to my
heart.

Do not abandon me, protect
me, and do not
Let (name of wayward lover)
have one moment of peace;
Do not let him rest, bother
him unceasingly with
Thoughts of me.

The Jaculatoria prayer can be
altered to fit any petition or situation,
not just to return a wayward lover.
After the Jaculatoria recite each prayer
according to the day of the novena.

First Day:

“Holy Death, through the favors
that you grant me

Make me overcome any
difficulties that for me nothing is
impossible.

No treacherous obstacles, no
hindrances, nor any enemies.

That no person does me harm.

And only friends come into my

path.

And that all my endeavors are
victorious,

And everything I do, flourishes.

Fill my home with success and
protect them with your virtues.”

(Say three Our Fathers)

Day Two:

“Holy Death, my great treasure,
Never leave my side at any time:
You ate bread and gave me a
piece,

And as the powerful host of the
dark in this mansion in life

And empress of the darkness,

I want you to grant me this favor
that (name of wayward lover)

Humbly falls before my feet
remorseful

And that he/she never leaves my
side, so long as I need him/her.

Make him/her fulfill what she/he
promised me.”

(Say three Our Fathers)

Day Three:

“Jesus Christ, who on the cross
was conquered.

Conquer (name of wayward lover)
that he/she falls before my feet.

In the name of our Lord, they are a
wild animal; they shall return tame as
sheep,

As soft as Rosemary.

Beloved Death, I beg that with the
massive force that God gave you

That you instill in (name)’s heart
that he/she has eyes only for me

And I am everything for him/her.

Please grant me the favor that I
am asking.

Having faith in your novena, and I

will light a candle

Every Tuesday of every week at
midnight in your honor.”

(Say three Our Fathers)

Day Four:

“Dear Death:

I ask you with all my heart.

Just as God made you immortal,
and the powerful host

And queen of the never-ending
darkness

That with your great power you
hold over all mortals.

Make (name of wayward lover)
unable to eat at any table.

Nor sit in any chair.

Nor have a moment of peace,

I ask that you make him/her come
to my feet,

Humble and remorseful.

Draw (name) closer and never let
him/her leave.”

(Say three Our Fathers)

Day Five:

“Glorious and Powerful Death,

I wish to take advantage of your
kindness.

As my protector and host,

I ask that you grant me this:

As the invincible force you are,

I beg that you make (name of
wayward lover)

So he/she cannot find joy in
his/her path.

Nor find a lover,

Nor eat, nor sleep if he/she is not
at my side.

Let his/her thoughts be of me and
me alone

And he/she give me all his/her
love and fill me with happiness.”

(Say three Our Fathers)

Day Six:

“Oh sovereign Lady

Whom our eternal Father’s divine
trinity

Has elected to blind the life of
mortals.

Whom every mortal will see,
sooner or later

Whether rich or poor.

And she takes us all, old, young
and child;

Whom she must take to her
domain

When God decrees her to;

I beg that you make (name of
wayward lover)

Fall in love with me, not just for
my physical beauty

But my inner soul

And that he/she comes to me
docile, faithful and kneeling at my
feet.”

(Say three Our Fathers)

Day Seven:

“Immortal Death,

Free me from all evil

And with the great power
Which God has granted you,

Let us rejoice eternally
Glorious days without night.

My protector, my mistress
I ask that you grant me the favors
I ask in this novena.”

(Say three Our Fathers)

Day Eight:

“Miraculous and Majestic Death:

I ask that with your immense
power

You give back (name of wayward
lover)

Do not give him/her one moment
of peace

if he/she is with someone else.

neither with friends or other
women/men will he/she be pleased.

When asleep then let him/her
dream of me.

When awake then let him/her be
thinking of me

And these words I say, let him/her

obey

And grant me what I ask.”

(Say three Our Fathers)

Day Nine:

“Holy Protector Death:

With the virtue that God granted

you,

I ask you to free me of all evil and
dangerous illnesses

And instead grant me

Luck, Health, Happiness, and
Money.

Let only friends come near,

And free me of my enemies;

And make (name of wayward
lover)

Present himself/herself humble at
my feet,

Asking for my forgiveness,

Humble like a lamb and true to
his/her promises.

Always loving and docile.”

(Say three Our Fathers)

Once the novena is complete, it is
best to keep the altar as it is until the
petition has been granted. Make sure to
put a fresh glass of water out each

week. Once the petition has been
granted one has to follow through with
the promise of this novena which is to
offer Santisima Muerte a candle every
Tuesday as her offering. This is
payment for her providing you with
what you asked her for.

Santisima Muerte
Oil #1

This recipe is a traditional blend
that is used for Santisima Muerte and
is good for any petition. It can be used
to anoint objects that are being blessed,
candles for spellwork, or can be used as
a scent for when attracting a lover.

Materials

Dried Rose Petals
Dried Rosemary
Dried Hibiscus
Orange Essential Oil

Rose Essential Oil

Carrier Oil (Sweet Almond Oil, or
Jojoba Oil)

Dark-colored bottle (brown or
blue preferable)

This oil should be made during a
waxing moon and preferably at night.
In the dark-colored glass put in your
dried Rose Petals, Rosemary, and
Hibiscus praying over each by calling
out to Santisima Muerte and asking her
to lend her power to the oil. Cover the
mixture with your carrier oil and
slowly start adding your essential oils
drop by drop; 3 drops of Orange
essential oil and 5 drops of Rose
essential oil. Again pray over the oil

asking Santisima Muerte to bless the
oil with her power, making sure to
breathe the prayer into the bottle. Close
the lid and place this on Santisima
Muerte’s altar for at least 9 nights.
Shake the oil up daily while praying to
really get the power flowing into the
oil.

Amarre: The Love
Binding

After the novena for Santisima
Muerte, the red spell or the amarre is
one of the most traditional trabajos.
Whereas the novena can be customized
for any petition, though it is commonly
used to bring back a wayward lover, the
amarre is specifically used to draw
back a wayward lover, keep them
faithful, and enflame their passion and
desire for you. There are variations on
how the spell is worked, though most
of the common methods involve

working over seven days using photos,
pins, and specific prayers often found
in little prayer booklets in botanicas
everywhere.

Materials

1 red vigil candle
1 red candle
3 pins

Photos of yourself and target
Siete Machos perfume
Santisima Muerte Oil
Cup of water

Start by performing an amparo to
either Saint Cyprian or Saint Michael
to ensure you are protected as you
begin your work. Then complete the

tributa by taking the clay pot of
flowers, water, and coins to the
cemetery. Call upon the power and
protection of Santisima Muerte and
leave the clay pot at the gate of the
cemetery. When you return home, set
up your altar and anoint the statue or
image of Santisima Muerte with Siete
Machos perfume. If you have all three
colors of Santisima Muerte, either
perform this before the red one or
move the red one to the center of the
altar and place the cup of water and
candles before the image. Take the
Aloe plant and hang it upside down to
the right side of Santisima Muerte
using a red string or cord wrapped
around the roots. While doing this

pray:

“Blessed Aloe, Sacred Aloe,
Holy Aloe through your
virtue that you

Gave the apostles, I ask that
you give to me this same
virtue for

I honor you and love you. I
ask that you may free me
from evil.

Illnesses, bad luck, that I do
well, and drive away evil
from my home and
Free me from enemies
wherever I may go:

That you bless me with
fortune

With all ease; your virtue
will make me strong, famous,
fortunate, and joyous.
Remove all obstacles from
my desires; this virtue that
God gave you.

In God I believe and you I
trust.

Through all of virtue that you
bestow upon me, I will defeat
All obstacles that are
presented to me.

I ask that you bless me and
my home with your virtue,
Holy Aloe.”

Take your red vigil candle and add
a drop of Siete Machos perfume. Be

very careful to only add a drop and rub
it into the wax for the perfume is
flammable. Set this before the image of
Santisima Muerte and light it while
praying the Jaculatoria. This is the
same prayer used in the novena. Spend
a few moments focusing on your desire
and letting yourself bathe in the energy
of Santisima Muerte.

Next take the photo of yourself
and the photo of your target. On the
back of your photo write your full
name, date of birth, and the name of
the saint on whose day you were born.
Do the same on your target’s photo
with their information. To find out the
saint’s day you can consult a Catholic

calendar. Take the photos and place
them face to face with your own on top.
Take two of the pins and pin the photos
together with one pin stuck vertically
and the other horizontally making a
cross. Place this under the cup of water
before the statue of Santisima Muerte.

Take the red candle and dress or
anoint it with your Santisima Muerte
oil while focusing on your desire. Set
this to the other side of her statue so
that the vigil is on her left, this candle
to her right, and the cup of water in the
front and center. Light the candle and
pray the following prayer of Santisima
Muerte:

“Jesus Christ, who on the
cross was conquered.
Conquer (name of wayward
lover) that he/she falls before
my feet.

In the name of our Lord, they
are a wild animal;
they shall return tame as
sheep.

As soft as Rosemary.
Beloved Death, I beg that
with the massive force that
God gave you

That you instill in (name)’s
heart that he/she has eyes
only for me

And I am everything for
him/her.

Please grant me the favor that
I am asking
Amen.”

Spend a moment focusing on your
desire then take up the third pin and
heat it up in the flame of the red candle
and with intent stick the pin in the
candle imagining it pricking the heart
of your target and making them restless
with thoughts of you. As you do this
pray the following prayer:

“Spirit, Body, and soul (name
of intended)

Come to me for I call you
I compel you,

I command you.

You shall not rest until you
humbly fall before my feet.

Just like this pin in the
middle of the candle.
You shall not forget me and
come to me for I am calling
you.

(Repeat this three times)

Spirit of Saint Cyprian bring
(name of intended) to me.
Spirit of Saint Helen bring
(name of intended) to me.
Spirit of Saint Martha bring
(name of intended) to me.
Saint of their day, (name the
their saint).

Guardian Angel of (name of
intended).

Twist his/her heart, let
him/her not rest in peace
Until he/she comes to me and
falls at my feet
Overwhelmed with love for
me and me alone.

Spend a few moments focusing on
your desire, seeing your intended
coming to you with love in their heart.
Then snuff out the red candle, while
leaving the vigil candle lit. The next
day recite the Jaculatoria, followed by
lighting the red candle, reciting the
prayer of Santisima Muerte, and then
heating up the pin and sticking it in the
candle again with the final prayer.
Repeat this over seven days snuffing

out the red candle while keeping the
vigil candle lit the entire time. Once
the spell is complete, keep the photos
with the pins under your mattress and
make sure to give Santisima Muerte
her ex voto when she grants your
request.

The Black Work

Along with the variations of red
spells used for love, the black spell is
one of the most common and
traditional spells and works calling
upon Santisima Muerte. In this work,
she is called upon in her role as the
embodiment of death to carry out a
work of revenge against an enemy. It is
often considered a very dangerous
work and should be approached with
caution. This work should be done
before the black Santisima Muerte.

Materials

Black candle

Black string or ribbon

Photo/trace of the individual

Black marker

Siete Machos Perfume

1 cigarette

Before beginning this spell it is
paramount that an amparo along with
tributa is completed. In this type of
working, it is important to complete all
the necessary steps and actually take
the tributa to the gates of the cemetery.
Move your Aloe plant to the left before
you begin. Once this is done take your
black candle and carve the name of
your enemy on the candle and light this
while praying to Santisima Muerte that

she come and take this person out of
your life. By the light of this candle
take the photo and write the person’s
name on the back three times along
with their date of birth. Take your
black marker and put an “X” on their
eyes and mouth. Light the cigarette and
blow three times on the photo, place
the cigarette on the lips of Santisima
Muerte for her to smoke, then place
this before her as an offering. Take
your black string or ribbon and anoint
it with Siete Machos perfume and wrap
the photo of the person around the
scythe of the black Santisima Muerte;
if you have a trace, make sure that it is
tied around the scythe along with the
photo. By the light of the candle spend

a few moments praying to Santisima
Muerte asking her to carry out your
revenge, asking her to reverse the
person’s evil back onto them, and to
carry them out of your life for good.

A petition like this puts the work
in the hands of Santisima Muerte who
is the ultimate arbiter of justice and
fairness. It leaves it up to her what
their punishment should be, but
remember that she is Death so be
absolutely sure you want to carry out
this work.

Protective Amulet
of Santisima Muerte

Amulets or amuletos are created
quite frequently by curanderas working
with Santisima Muerte and especially
for those individuals who may have
dangerous professions. These can
include both police offices and the
people working outside the law.
Interestingly, the role of protector falls
to both the black Santisima Muerte as
well as the white Santisima Muerte.
The black Santisima Muerte offers
protection from death and is especially

called upon to protect from hidden
dangers and to help you remain
undetected by the law. The white
Santisima Muerte is called upon to
protect from evil and harm. To create
an amulet you can work with either
Santisima Muerte.

Materials

Santisima Muerte medallion or
rosary

Siete Machos perfume

Santisima Muerte oil

White or black candle (depending
on which color Santisima Muerte is
being invoked)

Copal resin with charcoal and
incense burner

Make sure the Aloe plant is to the
left of the altar and light your incense
using the charcoal and incense burner,
then place this before the image or
statue of Santisima Muerte. Anoint the
candle with Santisima Muerte oil and
spend a few moments meditating
before its light. Take up the medallion
or rosary and anoint it with the Siete
Machos while praying that Santisima
Muerte bless it with her protection.
Hold the amulet over the rising smoke
of the Copal for a minute or two as you
continue praying, then hang it from her
statue and let it stay there for a week.
During that week light a candle each
day while you anoint the medallion

with the perfume and smoke it in
incense. Afterwards it can be worn on
the person to carry the protection of
Santisima Muerte.

To Release Someone
From Jail

Santisima Muerte’s role as the
saint who can help get justice for
people or help them get released from
jail comes from two very distinct
aspects of her cult. First her connection
with the marginalized and popularity
with those who have lives filled with
danger, especially those working
outside the law, and second with the
reality that prison is a grave of sorts.
She is therefore called upon and
petitioned to either gain release from

jail, or to aid in a court case. This can
of course be performed on behalf of
someone who is in jail and seeking
release. Simply adjust the wording
accordingly. Either the black or white
Santisima Muerte can be called upon
for this work depending on the
innocence of the person.

Materials

7 white candles (or 7 black)

White Ribbon

Siete Machos Perfume

White glass-encased vigil candle

Santisima Muerte Oil

3 pennies

A metal key

Make sure to move the Aloe plant
to the right side of Santisima Muerte
and begin by anointing your vigil
candle and lighting it. Place this to the
left of Santisima Muerte. Take the
white stand-alone candle and anoint
with oil, light and place to the left.
Anoint the white ribbon with Siete
Machos perfume and make nine knots
in it, but lightly. Anoint the three coins
and key with the perfume and place all
of this before her image. Then while
reciting the following prayer unknot
the first knot on the ribbon:

“Holy Death who all will
meet,

I implore you to unbind the

injustice against me.
Though we all are headed to
the prison of the grave,

Let me not be held in prison
while alive.

With the power granted to
you by Jesus Christ
Take these keys and coins
and seek my freedom.
May I be released from my
bondage and
May justice be served.

Amen.”

Every day light another white
candle and undo another knot while
reciting the prayer above. On the last
day take the coins, key, and ribbon and

carry them with you as amuletos, or
send them to the person on whose
behalf you performed the trabajo.

Healing Trabajo

This particular working was
taught to me by a curandera in
Southern California and is quite
interesting because of its use of water.
This use is very similar to the way the
practitioners of espiritismo use water
in healing. It is a simple working, but
one that is quite effective in the
removal of illnesses, sickness, and can
speed up recovery.

Materials

Separate cup of water from usual
offering

White vigil candle

Siete Machos Perfume

Ensure that the sacred Aloe plant
is on the right side of the altar and
begin by slowly passing the lit white
candle in circles over the head of the
sick person. This should be done in a
clockwise fashion and the candle
should not be dressed with any oils or
perfumes. Place the candle before
Santisima Muerte’s altar along with the
cup of water. Pray that she bless the
water and add a few drops of Siete
Machos perfume to the water. Lightly
dip your fingers in the water and
slowly run your wet fingers down the
body of the client from head to toe. Do

this seven times while praying that the
holy water cleanse, purify, and heal the
individual. When you are done leave
the candle lit and take the water and
dispose of it off your property.

Limpia

The limpia, or cleansing, refers to
a specific cleansing and purification
rite that is found among the various
cultures of Latin America with deep
roots in shamanic practices and
curanderismo. Anyone who has grown
up in a Latin American country will
likely be familiar with a limpia or had
one at some point; it is extremely
common for an elder to give limpias,
especially to children. While there are
different variations of how to perform
a limpia, they generally involve acts of
brushing, egg cleansings, spraying, and

suffumigation. This is accompanied by
prayers and occasionally with candles.
In the more urban areas where
commercial spiritual supply shops have
had an influence on individual
practitioners some have adopted the
use of aerosol cleansing products often
as replacement of the mouth spray or
smoking of the client and have also
started using specially made perfumes.

Different practitioners will have
different ways of performing a limpia,
from the simple egg cleansings to those
with elaborate ritual tools. There are
variety of limpias that call upon
Santisima Muerte specifically. One of
the most common is as follows and can

be used to remove any form of spiritual
illness, curse, and to aid in the healing
and recovery of a person. Limpias are
also used to aid in recovering from
natural illnesses as well and to speed
up the healing process, as often
curanderas are also herbal doctors and
the only healer in rural areas.

Materials

White vigil candle
Stand-alone white candle
Cigar
Rum

Siete Machos Perfume
Bundle of Rue
Egg

Cup of Water

Begin by lighting your white vigil
candle and praying for the aid of
Santisima Muerte in cleansing the
person you wish to perform the limpia
on. Then take your white stand-alone
candles and roll this on the body of the
individual from head to toe, ensuring
that you are constantly moving in a
downward fashion. While doing this
pray that the white candle absorbs all
the negativity, curses, illnesses and
such from the person. Light the candle
and place on the altar to let everything
absorbed be burned and disposed. Next
take the bundle of Rue and brush the
person with this, again making sure to
brush downward. This is to wipe away

anything that may cling to the spirit of
that person. When you’ve thoroughly
brushed them, toss the bundle of Rue
on the ground and have the individual
wipe their feet on it, then stepping
forward push the bundle behind them.
Next take your egg and rub it carefully
all over the individual, again ensuring
that you are moving in a downward
fashion. While doing this pray that the
egg absorbs any remaining negativity,
illness, or curses. When you’ve done
this crack the egg in the glass of water.
If you are familiar with egg divination,
you can read the egg in the glass. Place
the glass of water and egg on Santisima
Muerte’s altar. Take the bottle of rum
and putting some in your mouth spray

the individual with it by blowing the
rum out of your mouth. The aim is not
to soak or spit on the person, but to let
the rum spray out and cover an area. It
is best to put ample space between you
and the person; some individuals will
use their hands to cover the face of that
person to keep from soaking them. Do
this a total of three times, spraying in
the direction of their head or slightly
above. Light the cigar and suffumigate
the person. This can be done by
sucking in the smoke and blowing out
on them, or flipping the cigar and
putting the lit side inside your mouth
and blowing the smoke through the
cigar and out the other end. In either
case the smoke should touch all parts

of the body for it fortifies and
strengthens while cleansing away the
bad. End the limpia by anointing the
person with Siete Machos perfume,
especially their hands and head. When
you are done you dispose the materials
off your property. In cases where there
was a heavy spiritual mess it is not
uncommon to soak the used Rue bundle
with Siete Machos perfume and light it
on fire.

Conclusion

The cult of Santisima Muerte
continues to grow every day as more
and more people find solace in her, for
she is absolute justice, unshakable
fairness, and the force of death come to
help the living. While her cult
continues to grow and evolve, I think it
is important for those who enter the
cult from cultures outside the one that
she has made her home, to respect the
religious and cultural elements that she
has adopted. However, as death is
universal, anyone can approach her, for
she has something to teach us all about

living and dying.

Table of Contents

Introduction

The History and Legend of Santisima

Muerte

The Symbols of Santisima Muerte

Feast Day

Setting Up an Altar to Santisima

Muerte

Working with Santisima Muerte

The Trabajos of Santisima Muerte

Novena of Santisima Muerte

Santisima Muerte Oil #1

Amarre: The Love Binding

The Black Work

Protective Amulet of Santisima Muerte

To Release Someone From Jail

Healing Trabajo

Limpia

Conclusion